River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-03-31


with hand and eyes.
Where do you want me to 90 and
what do You want me TO do?" cried
the Waterman. who felt drawn by over
impulse to follow the appari-
ton, although his reason eounseled him
to refuse.
A faint low voice replied. Come in
a tone of such overmastering tender
ness that poor Peter could no longer re-
sist
go on he cried. whether YOU
come from above or below, l can't re-
sist you. I'll follow you as long as |
know where YOU lead me.
A look of intense relief spread over
the beautiful face rs the figure glided
TO The door and disappeared. Peter
ran and threw the portal open. and in
the gloom he saw by a sort of super
natural glow the figure in front, st'll
reckoning and advancing toward the
bridge Peter boldly followed u1til
the apparition stood AT the foot of the
rough scaffold. from which still depend
ed the remains of the young insurgen.
Pointing toward the body. the ghostlN
guide, in the same unutterably tender
voice, said: Help him!" and instantly
disappeared. Peter looked round in
every direction, and began to think he
had been dreaming. when suddenly
he thought he heard from the supposed
corpse faint moan.
by heavens. said Peter. 1.-THE
mans aliver' and acting on the sud
den impulse sprung on the scat
fold, caught hold of the rope. and cast
ing of the fastening lowered down the
body. which fell in heap at his feet.
Peter drew the inSurgent into a sitting
posture, placing his back against the
parapet, and pulling ont his
rum flask. he forced few
drops into the mouth. He was re-
warded by a cOnvulsive movement,
which showed that life was in reality
not departed. Another application of
Il e rum bottle was attended with still
more unequivocal symptoms of resusi-
tatiOn: and. in a very short time, Peter
had the qualification of hearing his
patient say in weak and husky voice:
Thank God! You were just in time
another minute and | was gone
How did You escape at ALP asked
Peter
..In their hurry they left the rope too
long" replied the insurgent, land |
was just able to touch the top of the
wall with my toes, so that | managed
to support myself and keep the moose
from tightening on my neck, ] held on
as long as could. but | was dead beat.
and if YOU had not come. in another
moment I must have given in and
fallen forward, when all would have
been over.
Are YOU able to walk" asked the
Waterman.
With much evident pain and difficulty
the inslrgent arose and took step or
two.
Yes. can just manage to crawl
along. and now. if You will let me pass.
know where to seek for help and
shelter
God he with YOU said Peter.
Them that tried to hang you may
catch you if they can, but they VII get
no help from me.
The insurgent grasped his hand and
whispered: Tell me your name, that /
may hope some time to show my
gratitude for the service you have done
me.
II am Peter Doherty, at your serv-
ice. late trooper of her Majesty s-th,
and now Waterman of this city for
want of better employment.
''YOu will hear from me again.
said the insurgent. moving with slow
and painful steps across the bridge;
and Peter. seeing him disappear in the
gloom, returned to the watch-house
marveling much at his extraordinary
adventure.
Needless to say he held his peace
about the transactions; and when in
the morning light the gallows was seen
TO be untenanted. and the rope flying
loosely in the breeze. twas cOnjectured
that the knot had slipped, and that the
body had fallen iu'o the river and had
been carried of by the tide. One dead
rebel the more or less was of little ac-
cunt in those times. and no one both
cred himself further about the disap-
pearance.
Six months afterward. a. Peter was
sitting on a summer evening smoking
his pipe on a seat at the watch-house
door. boy came up and said:
"Is there a man here named Peter
I'm that man. at your service, my
NV lad. replied Peter
Here a letter for you. said the
boy, handing Peter a small note and
making off. Peter opened
he epistle, which read as follows:
lone who owes his life to Peter
Doherty would be glad to see him
again if he calls at 8 this evening at
The house of Murtagh Bowling in
Green street. Ask for George Cub |
bins.
Peter, at the appointed hour, pre-
,ented himself at Bowling "a and 4
was at once shown into a back parlor, /.
where he was quickly joined by tall, /
handsome youth, who seized both his /
hands and cried:
did YOU think l had forgotten my 4
lreserver? dared not sooner 4
make myself known to you. /
Now, however, | am about to |
embark for a foreign land, and before 4
quit this country forever / wish you to /
'eceive both my own thanks and those 1
If my dear wife. who accompanies /
ne. Mary, called be, opening the I
ioor, .'come here and see the friend | /
old you of.
Peter started violently as a lady APP I.
1earud in the doorway.
Merciful heavens" he cried The
ghost herself The lady trembled
and would have fallen but
hat her husband sprang to her assist
lnce and placed her in chair.
Peter told his wonderful story and
declared that the apparItiOn which
-isited him in the watchhouse was the
.xact counterpart Of the lady before
lin.
This Is most strange said the wife
md her voice thrilled through Peter as
le recognized the musical tones in
: hich the apparition had address d
i'm. you remember dearest, / &C q